Minister Herath clarifies wedding songs, commercial event payments

Minister Vijitha Herath has dismissed claims circulating on social media that payments will be required for performing songs at weddings and hotels under Sri Lanka’s intellectual property laws.

Speaking at a public event, Herath said the claims circulating on Facebook had misrepresented recent discussions surrounding payments to singers, musicians and other creators for the commercial use of their work.

He explained that the issue relates specifically to commercially organised musical events where tickets are sold and songs belonging to other creators are performed for financial gain.

According to Herath, the Association of Creators and Publishers of Sri Lanka (ACPOSL) has maintained that original creators should receive a share when their work is used at such profit-making events.

Herath said he had directly contacted ACPOSL to clarify the matter following the circulation of claims on social media.

“There is no such thing as having to pay money for singing songs at weddings or hotels. The information shared on Facebook claiming that songs cannot be sung at weddings without payment is incorrect,” he said.

He explained that ACPOSL’s position was that when an event is organised by selling tickets for commercial gain, creators of the songs performed at the event should also receive appropriate compensation for the use of their work.

Herath noted that singers and musicians have long sought appropriate recognition and financial value for their creations under intellectual property protections. (Newswire)

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